Notices & termination › Lease termination letter

Lease termination letter

A lease termination letter confirms in writing that a fixed-term lease will end on its expiration date and will not be renewed. It protects both sides from auto-renewal traps, sets the move-out date, and opens the conversation about deposit refund and final inspection. Most leases do not strictly require one, but sending a letter 30 to 60 days before expiration is the established standard.

When to send one

The lease contains an auto-renewal clause.
The lease requires written non-renewal notice.
The tenant plans to move and wants deposit-refund logistics on record.
The landlord plans not to offer a renewal.

Standard timing

Lease end	Send letter by
Fixed 12-month	60 days before
Shorter month-to-month	30 days before
Auto-renewing lease	Per the lease's notice clause (often 60 days)

Sample wording

LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
Date: [Date]
To: [Landlord / Tenant name and address]
Re: [Property address], lease dated [original signing date]

This letter confirms that the above lease will terminate on its scheduled end date of [lease end date] and will not be renewed. I/we will vacate and return possession on or before that date. Please coordinate a move-out walkthrough and provide instructions for key return.

Forwarding address for deposit refund: [address]
Signed: [Signature, printed name]

Delivery

Certified mail, return receipt requested — best paper trail.
Email if the lease authorises electronic notice.
Hand delivery with a signed acknowledgement copy.

India practice

Indian leave-and-license agreements typically auto-terminate on the written end date without requiring a letter, but sending one avoids disputes over hold-over rent. For a registered lease in Maharashtra or Karnataka, the termination letter is also helpful when initiating the deposit-refund timeline agreed in the contract.

FAQs

What is a lease termination letter?

A lease termination letter is a written statement confirming that a fixed-term lease will end on its scheduled end date and will not be renewed. Either party can send one; 30 to 60 days before expiration is the standard timing.

Is a lease termination letter legally required?

Only if the lease says so. Many leases automatically expire on the end date without any notice. However, an increasing number of leases contain an auto-renewal clause that converts to month-to-month unless a termination letter is sent — read the lease carefully.

Can a lease termination letter end a lease early?

Generally no — a termination letter confirms non-renewal at the natural end of the term. To end a lease early, either a mutual termination agreement or a statutory early-termination right (military, domestic violence, habitability) is required.